Foreign-trained doctors frustrated by rule that raises hurdle for healing
● Kapil Sevnaran spent five-and-half years in China to fulfil his dream of becoming a doctor. Despite his A pass in matric, Sevnaran’s family had to fork out close to R1million to send him abroad to study because he could not get into a South African university.
But Sevnaran, from Durban, who qualified last year at the Shandong Medical University, is now in limbo along with hundreds of others who studied medicine overseas.
This is because the Health Professions Council of South Africa has from last month been insisting that graduates do internships in the country where they studied before writing their medical board exams in South Africa.
Many of the graduates say the council’s policy is disappointing because it hinders their intention of “giving back” to South Africa’s health system.
The affected doctors have also been asked by the health professions council to provide “an original certificate of good standing, which shall not be more than six months old, issued by the foreign registration authority where the applicant is or was registered”.
In a letter to those who applied to write the board exam, the health professions council said the decision last month to implement the policy “is meant to address an incorrect interpretation of the regulations” concerning qualifications obtained outside South Africa.
High obstacle
The doctors — many who have studied in Romania, Mauritius or China — argue that the regulation, first drafted in 2009 but only implemented now, would pose a “huge challenge” for them because of residency issues.
Sevnaran and several others in the same position have engaged legal team Pravda and Knowles to try to compel the health professions council to allow them to sit the board exam in May.
Implementation of the policy comes at a time when South Africa is facing a critical shortage of doctors.
A 2016 report by economic consulting firm Econex, commissioned by the Hospital Association of South Africa, showed that in 2013 the country had 25 state doctors and 92 private sector doctors per 100 000 people.
Attorney Annie Tooray of Pravda and Knowles said a court appeal had been lodged to challenge the health professions council’s decision.
“The next step is . . . to make this into a class action as there are many who are prejudiced and affected,” she said.
A dream deferred?
“The HPCSA has been served the appeal and they will have to advise of their reasons of decision and opposition.”
Sevnaran, after graduating in July last year, applied to the health professions council in September to write the board exam.
“I did not hear from them until February this year, when I was informed about the regulation,” he said.
“A big part of my going to pursue my dream to become a doctor was because it is such a greatly needed profession here in South Africa. The fact that I returned home to be turned down is quite disheartening . . .
“I can’t just let it go, I’ve put a lot into this,” said Sevnaran.
A Gauteng graduate who completed her degree in China last year said in a statement to Sevnaran’s legal team that going abroad had been difficult for her and a financial strain on her parents.
“I did what I needed to do for the end goal, to serve my country where she needs help most. I feel betrayed and disappointed,” said the graduate, who did not want to be named.
Neither the Department of Health nor the HPCSA responded to requests for comment on the issue.
But Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi is reported to have said in reply to a parliamentary question from IFP MP Narend Singh that the shortage of doctors would not be used as a reason to water down South Africa’s requirements for graduates who qualified abroad.